Sydney’s Stephen Brown slid home to his second A Main victory for the 05/06 season ahead of Mark Cooper and Greg Hill in a screaming closing lap challenge for the Bikebiz 20-lap Speedcar feature event.

Starting from lucky 13th in the line-up, Stephen Brown shot to the front of the pack in the Stealth/Fontana machine giving race fans another display of his consistently smooth driving style, after the super-slick track turned out plenty of carnage in the Mighty Midget ranks.

Speedcar Showbags Winners with Stephen Brown

As the green flag dropped Kristan Frandsen N30 and visiting Victorian charger Colin Patterson V4 sped to the lead only to come together on the back-straight; the impact throwing the duo into a series of rolls with Frandsen flipping over the inside track concrete barrier! Thankfully both walked away unscathed while the field prepared for a full restart.

Winner Stephen Brown #85

Back under race mode, Peter Oliver #24 took the lead ahead of Alan Day #15, Chris Steep #22, Victorian Troy Jordan #67 and Jason Gates #69. With almost a lap completed, the yellows were once again switched on after Tim Evans #57 came to a halt in the back-straight. With Evans rejoining the field, Oliver jumped ahead of the unprepared pack before Alan Day became unstuck after losing his right rear wheel in front of oncoming challengers entering turn 3. With drivers taking evasive action, a few were unable to avoid the tumbling #15, including Richard Malouf #8, Tarin Edge #73 who was airborne between Day and Jason Gates #69; and the recently returned Peter Bourke #27 who rolled viciously into the turn three pit entry.

4 wide: Bourke, Abson, Gates, S Brown & M Brown

With all drivers safely out of their cars, lap 19 restarted with front-runners Oliver, Steep and Jordan leading the field. Mark Brown and Mark Cooper hit the highline in their push from the rear, with Chris Steep moving into the leading position. Running three and four wide on the back straight, the yellows were flicked on for the spun Jeff Thomas #12. Now with only two laps down on the 20 lap feature, the greens were back on with Tony Abson nosing in to take the lead before Steep reclaimed the first spot, while Stephen Brown moved into 3rd and Mark Brown claimed the 4th spot by screaming around the ever increasing highline!

Hitting lapped traffic, Steep increased his lead in his immaculate #22 as the battle for 2nd place waged behind him. Stephen Brown swept under Tony Abson in turn 1 with 8 laps left on the board while Mark Brown and Mark Cooper continued to brave the highline to advance on the leaders. Gaining ground, the battle was on until the yellows flashed for Tarin Edge who slowed and stopped on the main straight with only five laps remaining.

2nd placed Mark Cooper #7

Steep led the swarm of machines around to the green once more before catastrophe struck our race leader; nearing the start/finish line Steep's left rear wheel flew off the machine half turning the car in front of the entire field. Clipped from behind, Steep was shot into a roll, Cooper slipping past the tumbling machine by mere inches. With Steep out of contention and Tony Abson retiring with damage, the race was restarted with Stephen Brown, Mark Brown, Troy Jordan, Mark Cooper and Greg Hill leading away the pack.

Underway, Mark Brown shot to the highline to move forward on the podium. Mark Cooper made similar moves shooting ahead of Troy Jordan for 3rd position. Passing the line, the yellows were on again with Victorian Brad Jackson unfortunately parked on the track. Restarted, more problems hit our travelling racers, with Troy Jordan stopping on turn 3. Towed from the track, the green lit up TPCR one again for a sensational 4 closing laps.

3rd placed Greg Hill #99

Stephen Brown led, Mark Brown took the highline, Mark Cooper headed low and placed himself right on the tail tank of our race leader. Mark Brown continued up high moving around Cooper only to hit turn 4 ruts relegating him back to 4th behind Greg Hill. Mark Cooper grabbed an opportunity and eyed off the lead. Not succumbing to pressure, Stephen Brown and Mark Cooper battled it out for the number one podium spot. Working hard with a never die attitude the top four place getters put on a great display of Speedcar Racing across all lines of the race track!

FEATURE RESULTS
1. Stephen Brown
2. Mark Cooper
3. Greg Hill
4. Mark Brown
5. Peter Oliver
6. Tim Evans
7. Troy Jenkins
8. Jeff Thomas
9. Adam Layton
10. Mark Redmond
11. Troy Jordan
12. Brad Jackson
13. Tony Abson
14. Chris Steep
15. Tarin Edge
16. Paul Bevan
17. Jason Gates
18. Richard Malouf
19. Peter Bourke
20. Alan Day
21. Kristan Frandsen
22. Colin Patterson

Photos courtesy of Lauren King of www.KingImages.com.au